[ACLU-CU ALERT] Need witness slips before 2 pm tomorrow!

[Champaign County ACLU Announcements]




MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2025

DEAR ACLU FRIENDS,
                                                               
 
The Illinois General Assembly’s Spring Session is accelerating with an important hearing tomorrow, Tuesday, February 18, 2025. We are asking you to file a witness slip to SUPPORT SB42 <https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=42&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=157147&SessionID=114&GA=104>, a measure that addresses confusion around when the odor of cannabis can be used to stop or search motorists.
 
SB42 seeks to address confusion from two recent Illinois Supreme Court decisions. In People v. Redmond, the Court held that the odor of burnt cannabis alone does not provide probable cause for police to search a car. But in People v. Molina, the Court held that the odor of raw cannabis does provide the probable cause for a search. 
 
SB42 addresses this confusion. The bill recognizes that officers are unlikely to be able to distinguish between the odors of raw versus burnt cannabis, and removes the requirement for an “odor proof” container to transport legal cannabis in Illinois. But, more important, Amendment No. 1 to SB42 states that the odor of cannabis – burnt or raw – does NOT provide probable cause to stop or search an individual, a vehicle or a person’s belongs. 
 
Please fill out a witness slip before SB42 is heard in the Senate Criminal Law Committee on Tuesday, February 18th, at 2:00 p.m. We urge you to file a witness slip as a proponent of the legislation ahead of the Committee’s scheduled meeting time.  
 
 
PLEASE REMEMBER TO FILL OUT THE SLIP FOR YOURSELF, NOT FOR THE ACLU. 
 
Take action today in support of SB42 by filling out a witness slip for the Committee and mark yourself as a PROPONENT.
 
FILL OUT A WITNESS SLIP FOR SB42 IN THE SENATE CRIMINAL LAW COMMITTEE <https://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/157147?committeeHearingId=21397&LegislationId=157147&LegislationDocumentId=196938>

WITNESS SLIP INSTRUCTIONS <https://www.aclu-il.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/witness_slip_one_pager.pdf>:
Identification – Fill in your name and personal contact information
Representation – Fill in “SELF.” THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU ARE FILLING THIS OUT AS AN INDVIDIUAL, NOT ON BEHALF OF THE ACLU.
Firm – Fill in “SELF”
Position – Check the box next to PROPONENT
Testimony – Check the box next to RECORD OF APPEARANCE ONLY
Check the box agreeing to the ILGA terms of agreement and click the ‘create slip’ box
 
Take action before the committee meets TUESDAY AFTERNOON in support of SB42 by filling out a witness slip, and marking yourself as a proponent.
 
 
FILL OUT A WITNESS SLIP FOR SB42 IN THE SENATE CRIMINAL LAW COMMITTEE <https://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/157147?committeeHearingId=21397&LegislationId=157147&LegislationDocumentId=196938>
 
Thanks for your help on this issue.  We appreciate your participation in this work. 
 
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